The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-02-19


would have been spared me. Be
hat as it may, the fact remains that
before | had arranged my pillows to
my liking my attention was diverted
from my task by three rather start
ling objects.
"The first was a dark-lantern pour |
ing its round red rays full in my face.
The second was an unusually long
and unnaturaliy bright self-cocking
revoler located within six inches of |
my nose The third was a particu-
larly villainous face, with thick,
black eyebrows running together
above the nose, forming no arch to
speak of, and producing the general
effect of Il straight unbroked line
crossing the lower forehead
"Was frightened ? Yes; but
scarcely think my fright took the
usual form. l knew in an instant,
as well as / know now, that it was
not my life, nor the trihing amount
of money he might find in my room
that the intruder wanted. | recog-
nized his presence there as part of a
well-laid plan to rob the bank. The
intruder's first words confirmed my
suspicious.
"Get up and dress yourself" he
said, in whisper; "We want you
at the bank. Ifyou value your life
be quick about it, and make no
noise"
"The mans arguments We're unan-
swerable, and | obeyed.
You are to 90 with me to the
bank" he said, holding his weapon
close to my head as ! dressed, and
openthe vault. The first movement
you make to escape or call assistance
will be your last. My mates are be-
low. If ! miss my aim, they will
not. If we meet mn officer at the
bank, or ON the way there, and you
are questioned, you are to say that
you want important papers left on
your desk, and pass on. You will
not beharmed. We wantmoney, and
not human life. Do you under
stand p
'In short time | was at the out
er door ofmy setting-room dressed
for the street. Never for an instant
in all my journeys about the room
to secure my clothes, had the threat
ening weapon been removed from
the close position of my waking mo-
ment. Still, / hadnot abandoned all
hope. Surely, between my rooms
and the bank, some opportunity for
escape would present itself / had
no intention of unlocking the vault
At the last moment ! should have
risked a few shots from the robbers
revolvers.
"My escort unlocked the sitting.
room door and paused with his hand
on the knob. At this instant d
sound of footsteps was heard on the
stairs, the key was quietly turned
in the lock, and | felt for the first
time the cold rim of a revolver on
my temple. The steps passed my
door, and the weapon was lowered
You all know what followed. Be
fore the weapon could be raised
again, the door fell in with crash
and the robber, who stood directly
in front of it, was clubbed to the
floor and handcuffed by a squad o
policemen led by the paying-teller
Dick did not return to his OWL
chambers that night We spen
the time until daylight in the sitting
room. At first he absolutely refus
ed to explain his sudden appear
ance with the officers, for Dick is d
hard-hcaded sort of a fellow, wht
scouts everything that cannot be de
monstrated by set rules and figures
but finally he fairly unbosomed him
self; telling his story before l hat
even given hint ofmy mysteriou
experience.
II slept soundly until nearly
O'clock" he said, with the air of
man who expected to be laughed a
"and then | passed into Il strang
trance-like dream. In that dream
saw, us plainly as | ever saw in IN
life, the interior of your bathroom
and seated at the foot of the tul
where the opening door would hay
concealed him from any one lookn
| in, saw the man we had last see
l opposite the window where we din
l ed. | recognized at once the sloucl
=. ing figure and the level line of cy,
= brows he then attempted to hide b
= meath the rim of his slouch hat.
. "There was no light the bathroom
t or anywhere about the apartmel
1 but had no difficulty in tracir
n every line of his face, nor in SEER
$ you sound asleep in your bed. NJ
+ mind at once became filled with IL